Last week's prison officers' strike, with complaints of lack of training and no succession plan for Bermudians, is history repeating itself, said a top officer called in to Bermudianise the service in the 1970s.

Englishman Bill Keast, who was deputy Prisons Commissioner from 1976 to 1978, said many of the problems in the current dispute were addressed when he was there, including comprehensive training programmes to ensure Bermudians were groomed for the top posts.

"What has gone wrong? Was it all a waste of time, effort and money," said Mr. Keast in a letter to The Royal Gazette, entitled 'Deja Vu - Will they ever learn?' on Saturday.

Prison officers have been on strike since Monday to try to force out Prison Commissioner John Prescod, whom they accuse of ignoring the recommendations of prison review from 2001, having no clear training regime or criteria for promotion, being autocratic, and having no plans for a Bermudian to take the top post when returns to Jamaica.

Mr. Keast and Tom Carnegie were called in to Bermudianise the service in 1976 following the Gould Inquiry and Inspection.

Mr. Keast said proper training, assessment and promotion programmes were put in place and able Bermudians took over once he completed his two year contract.

The pair were tasked with establishing leadership training; managing and encouraging rehabilitation; identify and developing promising Bermudian staff; grooming Bermudians for top posts; and putting in place a day to day management programme.

Mr. Keast writes: "All officers were interviewed; foundation courses were established for all officers; a recruitment drive to attract good quality personnel; links were established with Bermuda College; and contributions from allied professional disciplines such as psychologists, police, medicine, Customs and Excise etc. All officers completed these courses."

Some officers were put on management courses and sent to security and training courses in Britain, he said.

"Our successors were identified and despatched on long attachments to study management and operational tasks in a variety of UK prisons," said Mr. Keast.

"All this effort was a very costly exercise, supported and paid for by the Bermuda government.

"It was agreed by all parties involved that all future candidates for promotion would be required to achieve the certificate of supervision for step one promotion and the management diploma for higher levels of rank...

"On completion of our contract, the baton was handed on to two competent officers (Eddy Dyer and Milton Pringle), the morale was high, the potential sufficient for the task.

"What has gone wrong? Did personnel who displayed potential take up the baton, study, qualify?"